Tiger Live

Office Hours 

Nurse Paula Cardarelli

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 11:00am-3:00pm 
Please contact me by email to schedule an appointment.
If you would like to schedule time with me to discuss Covid-19, your children's/family's health and/or wellness I can arrange for a private conversation via Zoom.  I am also available to students for a lunch chat or to answer questions or concerns.

School Counselor, Sarah Gold

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday; 11:00-12:30 
Other times can be arranged as well. Please contact me by email to schedule your appointment. 


Ms. Gold and Nurse Paula
 

A key component of our distance learning curriculum requires the use of  educational, web-based resources and online programs. A federal regulation called Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires that parents authorize their child(ren) to participate in Tower's web-based, distance learning curriculum and student activities.

We ask that parents read and complete a brief authorization form on or before April 1, 2020. The form is accessible through Family ID and is submitted online.

Please click the button below. 

Dean Sidell
Associate Head of School, CFO

COPPA Authorization Form

A Tutorial for Families

This helpful tutorial, "Getting Started with Distance Learning," provides step-by-step guidance for the following topics:

• Accessing Your Child's Tower Email
• Using Google Classroom
• Using Zoom Videoconferencing

Getting Started with Distance Learning

Questions?

If you have questions about Google Classroom or Zoom we encourage you to reach out to our Distance Learning team.

Matt Murphy: Google Classroom

Melissa Upton: Google Classroom

Kelly Klocker: Zoom 

https://artsandculture.google.com/

Cincinnatizoo.org

Georgiaaquarium.org

Houstonzoo.org

Montereybayaquarium.org

Kids.sandiegozoo.org

zooatlanta.org

Podcasts for Younger Kids

The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian

Stories Podcast

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

Story Pirates

Smash Boom Best - debate show for kids

Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest (2nd grade & up)

Eleanor Amplified

The Show About Science

Tumble Science Podcast

Podcasts for Older Kids

Pants on Fire - A game show: kids vs adults

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

Kids Listen - Six Minute Episodes

Who Would Win? - Episodes debating battles between characters from Comic Books, Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Stuff You Missed in History Class - Greatest and strangest stuff from history

Author/illustrators offering readings of their books or conducting online classes on their own website/facebook live/Youtube.

Mo Willems - lunch Doodles at 1pm  

Oliver Jeffers - reading one of his books daily on Instagram 

Grace Lin - “Ask an Author” and drawing classes  

Jarret Kroscoska - Youtube Channel daily drawing lessons at 2pm

@macbarnett - reading one of his books daily on Instagram

Peter Reynolds - daily reading one of his books around Noon.

Todd Parr - lots of read alouds on his Youtube page 

Mrs. Upton's Picks - a curated list created by our own favorite book expert.

Cosmic Kids Story Yoga 

Public Libraries have many online resources available if you have a library card.  Some area libraries are allowing patrons to order books by placing a hold in their online catalog and they will leave the book for you outside the library.

Audible: Free, until all schools reopen!
https://www.audible.com/ep/kids-audiobooks

Ebooks & audio books; Download the app LIBBY to access your public library’s online collections

In addition, your public library offers many databases for use with your library card:

Swampscott Book FLIX, World Almanac for Kids  https://www.swampscottlibrary.org/services/online-resources/#students

Marblehead Databases for Kids https://www.abbotlibrary.org/childrens/websites-for-preschool-to-preteen/

Marblehead Databases for Teens https://www.abbotlibrary.org/resources/information-databases/

Salem Public Library Online Databases  https://www.salempl.org/services/onlineresources/

• Wonderopolis.org Short videos and readings that answers various burning questions for students. There are vocabulary challenges and comprehension questions
• http://bedtimemath.org/fun-math-at-home/
• Khan Academy Kids
  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/khan-academy-kids/id1378467217
  Always free, no ads, no subscriptions, with an offline version available for when internet access is difficult.
• PBS Videos and Interactive Lessons 
  https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/subjects/science/
• Commonsense Media, Resources for Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic
• Chicago Tribune, Life Skills Bucket List
• EdNavigator's One Great Thing, Helps Families Simplify and Make the Most of Each Day while Schools Are Closed.

Tower School's Acceptable Use Policy for Technology

All actions by students, parents, faculty, and guests at Tower School are governed by the Tower School Code.

All online communication that affects school relationships is governed by the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), whether or not that communication occurred at a school event, used school hardware, or used other school-provided resources. Improper use of technology to misrepresent oneself, to disparage the school or any person within the Tower School community, or to depict or advocate illegal or inappropriate behavior is a violation of the Parent-Student Handbook guidelines and potentially the Enrollment Agreement. Tower School reserves the right to dismiss any student whose behavior or conduct, or whose parent’s behavior or conduct, is determined by the school to be contrary to its rules, regulations or standards.

The AUP does not seek to list all specifically prohibited behaviors. It does not catalog abuses of technology not envisioned by the Tower Code or explicitly referenced in the Parent-Student Handbook.

All learning is based on trust and healthy relationships. All use of technology at school or affiliated with school activities will be guided by common-sense principles of trust and community standards.

Appropriate Use of Technology for Students

Tower School has taken the initiative to use software & hardware solutions to restrict children from viewing content that most adults would deem objectionable; Because no solution is foolproof, the following best practices are outlined:

• Students will use technology in ways that are respectful to peers, to teachers, and others.
• Students will allow faculty access, at any time, to screens, files, or other information located on their devices.
• Students will not use technology to harm/hurt others, including but not limited to, the use of abusive or objectionable language in public or private messages, social networks, or blogs.
• Students will not open others’ files without permission.
• Students will not use technology to steal, including use or copy of protected intellectual property.
• Students will not use others’ technology resources without permission.
• Students will not plagiarize other people’s work. Unless properly documented as others’ work, all work submitted by students will be entirely original.
• Students will not use the internet to try to obtain material deemed objectionable by 7 the Tower community. Students will not use technology to violate the Tower Code.
• Students are not allowed to use personal or school devices for game-playing or entertainment while at school.
• Cell phones may be brought to school, but must be off and stored in students’ lockers during school hours. Faculty may allow student use of personal phones at carpool and during sports pick up.
• Mobile devices may be confiscated if used during school hours without permission.
• It is strongly recommended that smart watches not come to school. Faculty may, at their discretion, ask a student to remove and store any smart watch.

The use of Tower School’s computers, email, Chromebooks, iPads, cameras, network, or other devices and software is a privilege, not a right, which may be revoked at any time for abusive conduct. Violating the Acceptable Use Policy may result in restrictions to (or loss of) technology privileges as well as other disciplinary action. Tower administrators and faculty, in consultation with the Head of School, will administer consequences when the AUP has been violated by students.

Further revisions to the Tower Acceptable Use Policy may be made at any time and are expected to be followed by students, parents, and faculty. We expect that students will seek guidance from teachers or administrators if they violate the letter or spirit of the Acceptable Use Policy.

The Tower Code

All members of the Tower community learn and work together under the Tower Code:

1. Respect all people: teachers, students, staff, parents, visitors, and others.
2. Respect the rights of students to learn and teachers to teach.
3. Be kind and helpful. Include others.
4. Be honest with yourself and others.
5. Respect school and personal property, and help keep Tower clean.

Note: This document will be updated regularly as we learn from our new online experience.

Acceptable Use Policy: Our Acceptable Use Policy applies to online learning just as it does in more typical learning situations. 

Appropriate setting while attending a class: Students are to attend class in a manner that is consistent with Tower’s expectations for typical classroom behaviors and attitudes. We suggest establishing and maintaining a specific location and set-up in your home for class attendance that will be most conducive to focused and participatory online learning (for example, sitting in a chair at a table or desk).

Assessment: Student assessment will vary by division and department. In general and as much as possible, we will adhere to assessment practices already in place before moving to online learning. Any major changes in assessments as a result of online learning will be communicated clearly to students and families by teachers. 

Attendance: Attendance will be taken every day in each class. 

Dress Code: Students are expected to be dressed for the day when attending online classes. While dress may be more relaxed than on a regular school day, we ask that students not wear pajamas to class. 

Illness: Please contact Paula Cardarelli if your child will not be able to participate in school due to illness. If you or a member of your family becomes ill and COVID-19 is suspected, please inform Paula.

Learning Skills and Student Support: The LSC team is already in conversation about supporting students. They will continue to meet 1-on-1 with students, scheduling time with families in the flex and off-times. As usual, LSC and classroom teachers will stay in close touch about individual students as needed. Sarah Gold, our school counselor, will also be available and will be connecting regularly with students and faculty.

Parent Communication: Consistent with our standard practices, parents are encouraged to reach out to faculty directly to schedule times to talk as needed.  Our goal is to communicate often about curriculum and your child(ren)’s progress. In the Lower School, we won’t start off writing weekly progress reports, but we will return to this routine. In Upper School, we will continue to communicate with updates from our classrooms as we have been doing all year long. 

Routines: We suggest that parents establish new routines for the online school day. Online learning does not fully replicate the classroom or the school day experience, so the length and pace of the weekdays will feel different. Routines will be particular to each family, depending on your situation, children’s ages, etc. With your family, set up specific times for school activities/projects/homework, chores, independent free time, outdoor exploration, mealtimes, family time and bedtime. Write it all down and post a schedule.

Use of Devices: Students in PreK - Grade 3 will use home devices to access Tiger Live. Please contact Kelly Klocker if you are in need of a device for a child. Students in Grades 4-8 are expected to use their Chromebook for online learning. Tower’s Acceptable Use Policy remains in place, and we ask that students use their Chromebook for school work only. Please monitor all screen activity closely.